order to this, see that all in every place shew their tickets before they come in. If the stewards and leaders are not exact herein, employ others that have more resolution.

Can any thing further be done, in order to make the meetings of the classes lively and profitable?

Change improper leaders: let the leaders frequently meet each other's classes: let us observe what leaders are the most useful, and let these meet the other classes as often as possible: see that all the leaders be not only men of judgment, but men truly devoted to God.

es.

How can we further assist those under our care?

By meeting the married men and women together, the first Sunday after the visitation; the single men and women apart, on the two following, in all the large societies by instructing them at their own housWhat unspeakable need is there of this? For personal religion either towards God or man, is amazingly superficial among us. How little faith is there among us? How little communication with God? How little living in heaven, walking in eternity, deadness to every creature? How much love of the world? Desire of pleasure, of ease, of getting money? How little brotherly-love? What continual judging one another? What gossipping, evil-speaking, tale-bearing? What want of moral honesty? Who does as he would be done by, in buying and selling? Particularly in selling horses? Family religion is shamefully wanting, almost in every branch: and the Methodists will be little the better, till we take quite another course with them. For what avails publick preaching alone, though we could preach like angels? We must, yea every travelling preacher must instruct them from house to house. Let every preacher, having a catalogue of those in each society,

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go to each house. Deal gently with them, that the report of it may move others to desire your coming. Give the children, "the instructions for children," and encourage them to get them by heart. scholars may think this work beneath them. But they should consider, the laying the foundation skilfully, as it is of the greatest importance, so it is the masterpiece of the wisest builder. And let the wisest of us all try, whenever we please, we shall find, that to lay this ground-work rightly, to make the ignorant understand the grounds of religion, will put us to the trial of all our skill. Perhaps in doing this it may be well; after a few loving words spoken to all in the house, to take each person singly into another room, where you may deal closely with him, about his sin, and misery, and duty. Set these home, or you lose all your labour: do this in earnest, and you will soon find what a work you take in hand, in undertaking to be a travelling preacher.

How shall we prevent improper persons from insinu ating themselves into the society?

Give tickets to none till they are recommended by a leader, with whom they have met at least two months on trial. Give notes to none but those who are recommended by one whom you know, three or four times in a class.

first time they meet.

or till they have met Give them the rules the

Should we insist on the band-rules? Particularly with regard to dress?

By all means. This is no time to give any encouragement to superfluity of apparel. Therefore give no band-tickets to any, till they have left off superfluous ornaments. Let every assistant read the thoughts upon dress, at least once a year, in every large society. In visiting the classes, be very mild, but very strict.Allow no exempt case, not even of a married woman.

Better one suffer than many. To encourage meeting in band, in every large society, have a love-feast quarterly for the bands only. Never fail to meet them once a week. Exhort every believer to embrace the advantage. Give a band-ticket to none till they have met a quarter on trial.

Do not sabbath-breaking, dram-drinking, evil-speaking, unprofitable conversation, lightness, expensiveness or gaiety of apparel, and contracting debts without due care to discharge them, still prevail in several places? How may these evils be remedied?

Let us preach expressly on each of these heads.Read in every society the sermon on evil-speaking. Let the leaders closely examine and exhort every person to put away, the accursed thing. Let the preacher warn every society, that none who is guilty herein can remain with us. Extirpate smuggling, and buying or selling uncustomed goods out of every society. Let none remain with us, who will not totally abstain from every kind and degree of it. Speak tenderly, but earnestly and frequently of it, in every society near the coasts.. Extirpate bribery, receiving any thing directly or indirectly for voting in any election. Shew no respect of persons herein. Largely shew, both in publick and private, the wickedness of thus selling our country.

What shall we do to prevent scandal, when any of our members become bankrupt?

Let the assistant talk with him at large. And if he have not kept fair accounts, or have been concerned in raising money by coining notes, let him be expelled immediately.

What is the office of a christian minister?

To watch over souls, as he that must give account.
In what view may we and our helpers be considered?

As extraordinary messengers designed to provoke the regular ministers to jealousy; and to supply their want of service, toward those who are perishing for lack of knowledge.

What power is this, which you exercise over the preachers and societies?

In November 1738, two or three persons who desired to flee from the wrath to come, and then a few more came to me in London, and desired me to advise, and pray with them. I said, If you will meet me on Thursday night, I will help you as well as I can.'More and more then desired to meet with them, till they were increased to many hundreds. The case was afterwards the same at Bristol, Kingswood, Newcastle, and in many other parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Here commenced my power; namely, a power to appoint when, and where, and how they should meet; and to remove those whose lives shewed that they had not a desire to flee from the wrath to come. And this power remained the same, whether the people meeting together were twelve, or twelve hundred, or twelve thousand. In a few days some of them said, Sir, we will not sit under you for nothing: we will subscribe quarterly.' I said, I will have nothing; for I want nothing. My fellowship supplies me with all I want.' One replied,Nay, but you want an hundred and fifteen pounds to pay for the lease of the foundery and likewise a large sum of money, to put it into repair. On this consideration I suffered them to subscribe. 'And when the society met, I asked, Who will take the trouble of receiving this money, and paying it where it is needful?' One said, I will do it, and keep the account for you.' So here was the first steward. Afterwards I desired one or two more to help me as stewards, and in process of time, a greater number. Let it be remembered, it was I,,

not the people, who chose these stewards, and appointed to each the distinct work wherein he was to help me. And herein I began to exercise another sort of power, namely, that of appointing and removing stewards. After a time a young man named Thomas Maxfield, came and desired to help me as a son in the gospel. Soon after came a second, Thomas Richards, and then a third, Thomas Westall. These severally desired to serve me as sons, and to labour when and where I should direct. And here commenced my power, to appoint each of these when and where and how to labour, while he chose to continue with me. For each had a power to go away when he pleased: as I had also to go away from them. The case continued the same, when the number of preachers increased. I had just the same power still, to appoint when, and where, and how each should help me; and to tell any

I do not desire your help any longer.' On these terms, and no other, we joined at first on these we continue joined. In 1744, I wrote to several clergymen, and to all who then served me as sons in the gospel; desiring them to meet me in London, and to give me their advice, concerning the best method of carrying on the work of God. And when their number increased, so that it was not convenient to invite them all, for several years I wrote to those with whom 1 desired to confer, and they only met me at London, or elsewhere. I sent for them to advise, not to govern Neither did I at any time divest myself of any part of the power above described, which the Providence of God had cast upon me, without any design or choice of mine. What is that power? It is a power of admitting into and excluding from the societies under my care of choosing and removing stewards of receiving or not receiving helpers of appointing them when, where, and how to help me, and of desiring any Ff

me.